Epistemology analyzes the product of cognition.
Epistemology is a discipline that studies how scientific knowledge is generated and validated . Its function is to analyze the precepts that are used to justify scientific data, considering the social, psychological and even historical factors that come into play.
An important step when defining a concept is determining its etymological origin. In this sense, we can emphasize that the antecedents of the term epistemology are found in Greek. This noun is composed of the union of two words: episteme , which can be translated as "knowledge or science" ; and logos , which means "speech."
Characteristics of epistemology
We can establish that epistemology is responsible for addressing philosophy and knowledge through the answer to various vitally important questions such as what knowledge is, how human beings carry out reasoning and how we verify that what we have understood is true or valid.
It is often said that epistemology proposes a theory of knowledge , focusing on the generation and justification of scientific knowledge. Analyzes issues such as arguments, certainties, fallacies, interpretation of meaning and understanding.
Rationalism, empiricism, constructivism and pragmatism are schools or currents of epistemology.
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We can emphasize that this concept was used for the first time, during the 19th century , by the Scottish philosopher James Frederick Ferrier , who coined it in his work entitled "Institutes of Metaphysics" . In this work he addressed various theories about knowledge, intelligence and the philosophical system.
In addition to the father of the term at hand. We have to emphasize that, throughout history, there have been other epistemologists of great importance. This is the case of Bertrand Russell, winner of a Nobel Prize in the field of literature and who offered important works in analytical philosophy; Within the science we address, he became one of the main representatives of the so-called logical neopositivism .
The foundation of knowledge is part of the object of study of epistemology.
Epistemology and epistemology
There are those who use the notion of epistemology as a synonym for epistemology . Both concepts, however, do not refer to the same thing. While epistemology focuses on scientific knowledge and is considered a theory about science, the discipline known as epistemology aims to discover the origin and scope of said knowledge.
Epistemology, on the other hand, is usually linked to the philosophy of science , although this is much broader. Certain metaphysical questions, to cite an example, are part of the philosophy of science and are not the subject of study by epistemologists.
The methodology
Another discipline related to epistemology is methodology . It should be noted that, for the methodologist, knowledge is not subject to a value judgment : it is considered, instead, as information already validated and accepted by scientists. What the methodology does is analyze how scientific knowledge can be expanded or increased.
We could say that epistemology, ultimately, seeks to know knowledge. This play on words helps us understand that, by taking scientific knowledge as the epicenter of his concerns, what the epistemologist does is perfect said knowledge, increasing its usefulness and value at a social level.
Types of epistemology
It is possible to differentiate between different types of epistemology, which are determined according to different perspectives.
Legal epistemology , for example, focuses on the knowledge that is developed in the field of law. Positive law ( iuspositivism ) and natural law ( iusnaturalismo ) are considered as types of epistemology in this specific framework.
Bayesian epistemology , on the other hand, is the approach that uses subjective (or Bayesian ) probabilities for the interpretation of beliefs. This view, based on the postulates of the English mathematician Thomas Bayes , maintains that probability theory affects the criteria of rationality.
Social epistemology , meanwhile, reflects on the social construction of knowledge. It takes into account, therefore, the cultural, historical, economic, etc. aspects that intervene in this process. In this framework, feminist epistemology appears: as its name indicates, it takes feminism as a starting point to study knowledge. In other words, it examines how gender intervenes in the notion of knowledge.
We speak of Platonic epistemology to refer to the principles presented by Plato and his disciples about knowledge. From the work of the Swiss biologist Jean Piaget , for his part, emerged the so-called genetic epistemology , which relates the relevance of knowledge to its constructive procedures. That is why he maintains that the method of obtaining it has a consequence on the validity.
It is also interesting to mention the existence of virtue epistemology . In this case, ethics in the production of knowledge comes into consideration. Specifically, it is considered that virtues have to base knowledge.
For virtue epistemology, curiosity, creativity, discernment, objectivity, and honesty are epistemic virtues . On the contrary, dogmatism, superstition, arrogance, superficiality and credulity are epistemic vices .